Steam imploder

ABSTRACT

An underwater sound imploder adapted for use in the exploration of minerals existing under the sea bed. The imploder consists of a combination underwater shell having a fire chamber communicating therewith and mechanism for introducing to the shell separately a fuel and oxygen or, alternatively, remotely generated steam sporadically or in bursts whereby there is produced continuous underwater implosions causing bursts of sounds under the surface of the water directed by the shell in the general direction of the water&#39;&#39;s bottom.

United States Patent [191 Pauletich 1 Oct. 14, 1975 1 STEAM IIVIPLODER [76] Inventor: Joseph Pauletich, 92-18 43rd Ave.,

Elmhurst, NY. 11373 22 Filed: June 20, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 481,067

[52] US. Cl. 181/118; 181/120; 340/7; 340/8 FT; 340/17 [51] Int. Cl 1104b 13/00; G01v l/02; G01v 1/38 [58] Field of Search 181/.5 R, 120, 118, 119; 340/7, 8 FT, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,852 2/1962 Paury 181/118 3,711,824 1/1973 Farrow et a1. 340/17 3,712,408 l/1973 Muniz 181/120 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1/1960 United Kingdom 181/.5 R

Primary ExaminerMaynard R. Wilbur Assistant ExaminerN. Moskowitz ABSTRACT An underwater sound imploder adapted for use in the exploration of minerals existing under the sea bed. The imploder consists of a combination underwater shell having a fire chamber communicating therewith and mechanism for introducing to the shell separately a fuel and oxygen or, alternatively, remotely generated steam sporadically or in bursts whereby there is produced continuous underwater implosions causing bursts of sounds under the surface of the water directed by the shell in the general direction of the waters bottom.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 3,912,042

U3. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 r 1 Om u. 1| WWH WM MW U.S. Patent 0a. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,912,042

1 STEAM IMPLODER The invention relates to underwater sonic devices and, in particular, to such devices which create repeated sound effecting implosions under the surface of the water. I

The present device is adapted particularly for relatively shallow waters to cause continuously repeated sound bursts which will travel generally toward the bottom and cause echo frequencies to return to devices for detecting mineral matter in the bed of the water medium by analyzing the nature and character of such echoes.

To this end the device consists of a vibrating device having a fire chamber and a sound shell within which continuous implosions are produced as a consequence of there being separately and sporadically introduced to the chamber either pressurized steam or gases which on mixing can be caused to combust with such high heat producing intensity that steam is nearly instanta: neously produced within the shell causing bubbles to be generated which on expansion in the water medium will implode so as to cause the shell to vibrate and create the desired waves under the waters surface. The sonic waves thus produced are effected repeatedly whereby returning echoes from solid objects under the sea bed can be properly studied and analyzed. 1

One object of the invention is to provide an underwater sonic device for producing continuous sonic waves in a repetitious fashion which is particularly adapted for shallow underwater operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated on reading the following description of one embodiment thereof which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the underwater sound imploder suspended from a boat and a towed raft carrying sound detectors;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of same; 7

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the sound imploder;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the valve distributor;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the shell shown in reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a vibratory shield 6 having an interior chamber 8 depending from boat 15. In communication with aperture 10 in the shield is fire chamber 12 which receives a conduit 13 through which is continuously expressed a component of a combustible gas mixture such as oxygen stored in tank 14 on the boat 15. A second conduit 16 leading to the chamber 12 receives fuel from rotary valve 19 to be described. The valve 19 in turn is connected on its inlet side to conduit 17 which leads from a fuel tank 18 on the boat 15. Acetylene gas, for example, may be used as the fuel which is caused to flow through the conduit 17 and into the rotary valve. Bleeder lines 21 and 23 are connected to the inlet conduits l3 and 17, respectively, for providing a pilot light in the chamber 12 which is used as a safety device for heating residual unburnt gases in the chamber between implosions within the shield. Such implosions are caused by sparking elements 27 and 29 which extend into the chamber and ignite the gaseous mixture thererotary coinponenthaving fuel passage 31 isdriven by a variable speed motor 24. The center of the stator;is apertured and adapted to admit the fuel continuously into the rotor passage 31 while the other end of the pas- 'sage'31 is adaptedto register with a second aperture in IQ aperture in the' stator is connected to fuel inlet line 17 the side of thestator once every revolution. The center and the side aperture is connected to conduit 16 leading to the fire chamber 12. There is disposed in the periphery of the rotor a magnet and induction coil 32 wound on magnetic core 33 is disposed on the outside of the stator current being generated therein nearly simultaneously with the opening of the rotary fuel valve into fire chamber conduit 16 each time the wheel magnet 30 is rotated into flux interacting proximity with the coil. The rotational velocity of the rotor measured in RPMS determines the rate of introduction of the gaseous fuel component as well as the current generation and, hence, the frequency of the repeating implosions within the vibratory shield 6.

Compressed air is introduced into the fire chamber 12 through conduit 35 from compressor 25 on the boat whereby the water level therein is maintained below the sparking elements 27 and 29 which are discontinuously supplied by the coil 32 of the rotary distributor valve. The coil is electrically connected by means of wire 36 to the spark plug 37 on which element 27 is electrically mounted projecting inside the fire chamber.

Alternatively, the rotary valve 19 may be supplied by live steam which is admitted to the interior of the shell in successive bursts being generated in boiler 38 on the boat and fed to the fire chamber through the conduit 16 similar to the fuel passage in the mode of operation explained above. In any event the steam whether generated therein or admitted from the outside expands within the shield until implosion occurs and the desired sonic waves are generated as a consequence of its vi brations.

The shell 6 within which the implosions occur is rectangular in outline, as shown in FIG. 7, and open sided thus permitting the sound waves to travel laterally thereof. In addition, it is provided with intermediate section 40 which reflect the waves downwardly and directly to the sea bottom and downwardly inclined end sections 42 and 44 which reflect the waves forwardly and rearwardly of the device with more of the sound travelling forwardly, end section 44 being longer than section 42.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, boat 15 has in tow raft carrying on its bottom sound detectors 52 con nected to devices on boat 15 where the returning waves may be recorded and analyzed.

Various modifications of the sound imploder may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An underwater steam imploder comprising a vibratory shield having an interior implosion chamber, said shield being open sided and having in its normal or non vibrating condition an intermediate section and an end section, said sections being in separate planes, a valve with said valve, means for continuously introducing air into the top of said fire chamber whereby the latter is maintained in dry condition during operation.

3. An imploder as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve is a rotary driven valve.

4. An imploder as defined in claim 3 wherein said supplying means includes a magnet disposed on the rotary component of said valve and a coil wound core disposed on the stator component thereof.

l l l 

1. An underwater steam imploder comprising a vibratory shield having an interior implosion chamber, said shield being open sided and having in its normal or non vibrating condition an intermediate section and an end section, said sections being in separate planes, a valve in communication with said chamber and adapted to pass fluids incrementally therein, conduit means for admitting steam or a gaseous component to said valve and means for successively opening and shutting the valve.
 2. A steam imploder as defined in claim 1, wherein there is a hole in said shield, an open ended fire chamber in communication with said valve and disposed over said hole for communicating also with tHe interior of said implosion chamber, said fire chamber having means for igniting mixed gases therewithin, means for supplying current to said igniting means in synchronism with said valve, means for continuously introducing air into the top of said fire chamber whereby the latter is maintained in dry condition during operation.
 3. An imploder as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve is a rotary driven valve.
 4. An imploder as defined in claim 3 wherein said supplying means includes a magnet disposed on the rotary component of said valve and a coil wound core disposed on the stator component thereof. 